The democracy came to Fazilka in the form of a directive of elected members for the municipality of the town. The boundaries of the town were defined and the wards were outlined. A form of municipality was founded in Fazilka during the year 1867 vide Punjab Government Notification No. 1034 dated August 7, 1867. The Municipal Act was extended to the town during the year 1873.
The Municipal Committee, Fazilka, was constituted in 1885 vide Punjab Government Notification No. 486, date 10 December 1885. Its limits were fixed vide Government Notification No. 415, date 3 July 1916, and these were revised vide Punjab Government Notification No. 421-C-38/6308, dated 31 February 1938. The municipal bye-laws were introduced into the Town vide Notification No. 541, dated 1 November 1905.
There are 21 members of the Committee and their duration of office is five years.
Before the supply of electricity was taken over by the Punjab State Electricity Board in 1955, it was supplied by a private firm, Harbhagwan Nanda and Co., which had its own power-house. For street lighting within the municipal area, 340 tubes and 455 bulbs have been installed.
The water-supply system was introduced in 1965. Two tube-wells with one reservoir, wee installed by the Municipality. The sewerage scheme is also under execution.
For cleanliness of the town, the Municipality has employed 135 scavengers. It has two tractors, ten trolleys and some carts for the disposal of refuse. The night-soil is deposited in compost pits and the compost later on is sold through public auction.
The Municipality maintains a health centre, a library-cum-reading and a park. It also maintains 19 Kms of metalled roads.
The taxes levied by the municipality comprise house tax, octroi, toll tax, hawker carts tax, show tax, etc. Its income and expenditure are as:
Year Income Expenditure
(000 Rs)Â (000 Rs)
1973-74Â 1,406Â 1,337
1974-75Â 1,662Â 1,490
1975-76Â 1,860Â 2,023
1976-77Â 2,685Â 2,984
1977-78Â 2,730Â 2,626
1978-79Â 2,218Â 2,258
1979-80Â 2,646Â 2,655
(Statistical Abstracts of Punjab, 1974 to 1980)
